What is the Difference Between RFID and NFC

What is the difference between RFID and NFC? RFID and NFC are both short-range, contactless wireless communication technologies, but the two are actually in a relationship of inclusion and inclusion. RFID is a technology that uses radio frequency signals to transmit information, while NFC is a subset of RFID technology.
 

What is RFID
 

RFID is a wireless system that uses radio frequency to transmit data between a reader and a radio frequency card in a non-contact, bidirectional manner to achieve target identification and data exchange. It mainly uses radio frequency signals to automatically identify target objects and obtain relevant data, and can realize contactless automatic identification technology. According to the application frequency, it is divided into low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), ultra-high frequency (UHF), and microwave (MW). The corresponding representative frequencies are: low frequency below 135KHz, high frequency 13.56MHz, ultra-high frequency 860M~960MHz, and microwave 2.4GHz.
 

What is NFC
 

Like RFID, NFC also uses tags to store data and can work in both directions. In terms of the working frequency band, NFC mainly works in the high-frequency RFID spectrum of 13.56MHz, so it can also be regarded as a subset of RFID. As long as the reader and writer that supports the same standard can read and write data to it.

NFC uses the standards commonly found in RFID applications. The interaction between NFC readers and passive devices is governed by ISO/IEC 18092 and 21481, and supports ISO/IEC 14443 A and B as well as FeliCa. NFC tags should be readable by any ISO14443-compatible reader, but NFC applications also need to implement additional standards defined by the NFC Forum (a standards body).
 

What is the difference between RFID and NFC
 

In general, the differences between RFID and NFC are mainly in several aspects:

1. Correspondence:The reader and tag in RFID can be a one-to-many relationship (ISO14443 for low frequency and high frequency is one-to-one), while NFC is a one-to-one relationship.

2. Frequency difference: In terms of frequency, RFID has multiple operating frequencies such as low frequency, high frequency, and ultra-high frequency, while NFC only works in a single high frequency spectrum of 13.56MHz.

3. Communication distance: The communication distance is also very different. NFC is much shorter than RFID. RFID can reach tens of meters, while NFC is only within 10 centimeters.

4. One-way and two-way communication: RFID can usually only communicate in one direction (from tag to reader), while NFC can communicate in two directions. In addition, NFC can only scan one tag at a time, while RFID can scan multiple tags at a time. This should be the most significant difference between RFID and NFC.

5. Data reading and writing: In terms of data reading and writing, data can be written to tags using RFID readers. Generally speaking, NFC data can be read and written from tags, or locked as read-only. Extracting data from RFID tags usually requires a corresponding card reader, while NFC data reading is relatively simple and much cheaper. Most smartphones are now equipped with NFC reading functions.

6. Application scope: NFC is often used in payment occasions, while RFID is mainly used for logistics tracking, asset loss prevention (such as tags on clothes in department stores), etc. When tracking inventory through the supply chain, especially when collecting asset information in places that are difficult for people to reach, RFID is the best choice.

Although both RFID and NFC can perform contactless information reading, due to factors such as frequency band and reading distance, the two technologies are more suitable for application in different fields. RFID has excellent group reading performance and supports long-distance reading and writing, so it can be deployed in various environments. NFC has good security performance and is easy to read data, so it is widely used in finance and electronic products.